User blog:Lathagarr Stormgale of Tronn/Indigo Blade

Blood.

Blood was everywhere.

''It dripped from the table. Trickled down the wall.''

''The scent of death. Several bloody corpses, lying around as if tossed carelessly by some great beast of fate.''

Ragged breathing came from under the carcasses of a fox and a stoat, along with the ever-present sound of blood dripping from the table.

''Drip. Drip. Drip.''

''Suddenly, the door was thrown open and groaned feebly on its hinges before collapsing on top of the body of a marten. The beast that entered was a female fox, dressed in the garb of the Elite Guard. Her pale silver eyes roamed the room, stopping at the corpses of the fox and the stoat.''

''Leaping agilely over a pool of dark blood, she grabbed the fox and threw it to one side then lifted the stoat and tossed it on top of its fallen comrade. Underneath lay a smaller female fox with a deep, jagged slash across her chest. She opened her eyes, which were a brilliant blue and a smile cracked across her features.''

''"Aina...I...I got Jarraz but...Azgar got..got...me..." her voice faded and her eyes dimmed, then closed. She appeared to be sleeping, the smile frozen on her face.''

''Aina clutched her and lifted her up, walking toward the open doorway, as in a daze. "I'll get you out of here. I told you I'd take care of you, didn't I? Don't worry, ye'll be okay, I know ye will. It's just a little scrat-" She stopped in the hall, laid her sister down beside her and broke down. Deep bitter sobs wracked her body until there was nothing left. She felt hollow. Empty. Alone.''

''Slowly, stiffly, she stood, lifting her sister's body gently and padded down the winding halls and staircases until she reached the main courtyard. All throughout the fortress was carnage and death. The bodies of the dead and dying lay scattered, those that were still alive moaned, screamed or cried out for help. Their pleas fell on deaf ears. Aina was as dead as the thick stench of death surrounding her.''

''She crossed the drawbridge over the moat and entered the forest, following a path known only to her paws. Soon, she reached a small glade and there, among the thick violets and clover, she laid her sister to rest. She looked so peaceful, happy even, laying there in the glade they had played in as children. Aina touched her brow and whispered solemnly. "I, Aina Dark Blade, thus vow: I shall not rest until I slay your killers, my sister...or die trying."''

''She stood and pulled out her longsword. It glittered like ice in the bright noonday sun. Looking at the reflection in its keen blade, she spoke.''

"I name ye Indigo, for my sister who was slain. Ye shall aide me in my vow."

Sheathing Indigo, she strode from the glade, not looking back once.

Chapter One
Thick sheets of drizzle drenched her to the skin, through her thick fur. The vixen ignored the cold, the wetness as she sloshed along beside another fox, his fur color indistinguishable in the downpour. To her right, a tough rat tramped, using his spear as a walking stick. The ground had turned to mud, thick, oozing mud that made a sucking noise at each pawstep.

They were nearing the edge of a forest now, the dark blurry outlines of trees could just be seen. Soon the ground began to feel more like thick grass instead of mud. The rain was not so heavy under the protecting boughs.

Ahead a voice called a halt and the twenty score beasts all sank to their haunches in relief. The vixen sat down next to the dog fox and took her rations pack off her back. She massaged her shoulders for a bit, bringing a little life back into them, then opened her pack and thanked her luck in getting a waterproof pack. She pulled out a container of strong ale and poured some in the lid, which served as a cup, and passed it to the other fox, who drunk greedily. She took a few swigs herself and set it down with a sigh.

The rat had found a stone and was honing his spearblade to icy keenness. He glanced around and muttered bad-temperedly. "Vhen thees rain let up? It as eef eet vant drown uz een mud." Jhenn, a thin, almost gaunt weasel shook his grizzled head. "Been goin' on like dis fer days. Should let up soon, me ole legs tellin' me." A scraggly fox let out a guffaw, "Yer ole leg's allus tellin' yer things, Jhenn!"
 * Another voice cut in, "Tell uz a ztory, Jhenn!"

There was a chorus of "aye"s and the shivering, pawsore vermin gathered around the oldbeast like a group of young ones as he sat down on a more or less dry stump. As all hushed in expectation, Jhenn's eyes took on a different aspect as he surveyed his audience dramatically.

"I was a only youngbeast then, when it all began..."

The vixen closed her eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep of the kind only brought on by pure exhaustion.

They had been on the march for nearly two weeks and the vixen was losing track of the days that passed with their utter monotony as they crossed the Desert of Skulls. She adjusted her neck scarf for what seemed the hundredth time but drafts of heat still managed to work their way in under her fur, causing her to sweat. They had lost about half a score of beasts to heat stroke or dehydration and everyone was traveling lighter than before. She rummaged in her ration pouch for some dried fruit, only to find a hole in the bottom and only one shriveled apple slice left. She bit off a piece and stuck the rest in her neck scarf since the pouch was now useless.

Her companion, the dog fox, knowing this area better than the rest of them, had been promoted to scout so she now had the rat on one side and a cantankerous old ferret on the other. She snorted as a gust of sand blew in her face and ignored a fly buzzing around her muzzle as she marched along with the rest.

Though the rations were bad, the journeys arduous and the business perilous, the vixen enjoyed it for the anonymity. The knowledge that none of these beasts knew who she was, what she was, along with the fact that every day that passed brought her that much closer to her goal. The fact that, after so many seasons, she was finally going home. Yes, it was all worth it.

She woke to a gust of warm air and the squabbling of the rat and the she-ferret.

"Oi knows yer did it, yer nuthin' but a dirty thief!" the ferret's voice, high and whiny.

"Theef, ees et? Vhy vould I vant yer uzelezz knife? Ees no better than a ruzty keetchen knife!"

"Ohho! I knows yer stole it, fatnose! Oi saw yer eyein' it, Oi did! Yer can't git outer this that easy, scumbag!"

Suddenly, the rat's own dagger was tickling her chin. "Ezigno ees no theef! Keep your mouth shut, feerret or you deed beezt"

A brawny fox strode over, placing his spear between them. He gave each a thwack on the knees with it and they both sprawled in the sand. The rat got up, dusting sand, his eyes glaring hatred, "Vhy you do that, fox? You veel pay!" The fox chuckled and prodded Ezigno's chest with his spearpoint then rapped the dagger paw, sending the dagger spinning through the air, where it landed, point first in the sand.

"Yore not one ter be makin' threats, rat! Yew know th' rules. No drawin' on another 'ordebeast! Yew!" he called to two others, a stoat and a rat, "Git some rope an' tie these two miscreants together, neck 'n' paw. Yew, Aina, if that's yer name. Yew stay be'ind 'em wid yer spear. Keep 'em movin'. We can't have more of these delays or 'is Lordship Azgar'll 'ave our necks!"

He spun on his heel and strode back up the line and was lost from view. Ezigno and the she-ferret were bound together tightly with a tough rope by their necks and their footpaws. The stoat sniggered as the she-ferret let out a gasp of pain as he tightened the knot on her footpaw. "Uhuhuhu. I allus sed ferrets was stupid. No brains, see? Ain't that right, Inta?" The ferret stared daggers at him. Aina gave Ezigno an apologetic look as she took her place behind him and the march began.

They traveled at a quick pace. There was a change in schedule, brought about by Antus, the dog-fox's knowledge of the desert. In stead of marching through the blazing hot days, they traveled by night, resting through the hot hours of the day. They stopped for a rest at a small path of green surrounding a waterhole. Aina was sitting next to Ezigno, who was trying to stay as far away from Inta as the ropes would allow when she looked up and saw a familiar form approaching them. Antus strode over with a slight smile on his features and bent down next to Ezigno. Taking out his dirk, he cut the ropes that attached rat and she-ferret.

"Try t' control yer temper in th' future, mate. And you," he turned to Inta, "Ye best keep yer mouth shut or next time ye won't be so lucky."

Inta curled her lip coldly while rubbing the life into a footpaw, "Lucky? Y' call bein' forced t' march next t' that fleabag fer three stinkin' days lucky? Wid me pore ole paws boun' so tight I can't feel them. Now yer comes 'ere and try ter tell me I should be thankful ter that brushtailed buffoon wot calls hisself a capin? Wot d'yer want me t' do now? Git down an' kiss 'is grimy footpaws?? Never!"

Antus looked taken aback at her outburst for a minute then cuffed her across the mouth. "Now yew just look here, ferret. I'm trying t' keep as many o' us alive as possible. If'n ye keep that yellin' up, one o' the cap'ns'll hear ye. Ye'll be deader'n' a stone afore too much longer. Keep yer mouth shut an' yer ears sharp. That's the only way t' keep alive aroun' here." With that, he turned to Aina and brushed a paw across her cheek briefly then headed back the way he had come.

Aina touched her cheek and watched his retreating form, noting the powerful shoulders, the erect way he walked. She mentally slapped herself and got back to twining four tough grasses together. Ezigno glared at the ferret before sitting by the vixen. Picking up a stone, he pulled out one of his daggers and, peering down its blade, set to work sharpening it with a vigor.

The night was dark and still with a full moon peeking out from behind a cloud. A faint breeze rustled the tall grasses and there was a flutter of wings and a squawk. A set of rounded ears poked over a rise and a scrawny ferret picked up the fat ground-nesting bird he had slain. Yes, Gurrin would eat well tonight.

Antus stood at the end of the desert, cloak flapping slightly in the cool breeze coming off the plain. Beyond the plain, on the far horizon stood a vast forest and, beyond that, a mountain range, their snowy peaks hidden in the skies.

He motioned to his two companions, both lean rats.

"Scout out th' lay o' the land, Ungor, Fleettail. See wot ye can find an' report back to me only. No other beast."

Both rats saluted and were gone into the night.

Antus paced as he waited for the rat's return. An hour passed with no sign of them, then two, then three. He sat down on a clump of grass and peered out over the plain into the darkness. He heard a rustling in the grasses and he got up, waiting for the rats to appear.

"Took ye long enough." he whispered.

Suddenly, there was a flash of pain at the back of his skull and stars exploded in his vision and he slumped to the ground, dead to the world.

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